messy pretzel chignon-ish hair tutorial

Okay, so I feel a little silly posting this hair “tutorial” because, well, a few reasons.

I’m usually rocking bedhead and a low pony.

It’s pretty simple.

I have no idea how to write a hair tutorial.

But I’ve had a lot of people asking how I do it and asking me to share, so here it goes!

First things are my hair prep. I find that I’m able to throw my hair up in this chignon-ish-updo most successfully when I’ve either applied product to my hair and blow dried — using the products listed here — or 2nd-day hair with product. My 2-day hair washing routine is typically comprised of the first day with product, blow dried and curlers followed by a simple up-do like this one the second day.

I’ve tried putting my hair up in this style with no product, but I find that I’m not able to get any lift at my crown and it slips through the bobby pins pretty consistently. meh.

So. Moving on to the actual “put your hair up” steps.

1|| I begin by making sure my part is where I want it in the front. I typically do a part deep to one side about halfway back, with the remaining hair going straight back. Tease this hair going back at your crown if you need to hold it in place. Brush the top layers lightly, just to smooth it.

2|| Next, I gather my hair and twist it to the side that I want my chignon to be. Push up a little bit as you do this step to give some volume at the crown of your head.

3|| Pin this twist into place using bobby pins. This step is my key to getting a nice lift at the roots — I make sure to really pin this twist securely with the volume at my crown like I want it. It should be secure enough to stay there if you remove your hands (to a point), but especially holding enough to keep it looking like you want it to look from the front.

….if that make sense?

4|| At this point, I twist the remaining hair into a “pretzel.” Well, I’ve never actually made a pretzel, but in my mind, it’s similar. Or maybe one side of a pretzel? I wrap my hair into a loop, crossing what is left across that loop to the other side.

There really is no rhyme or reason….and every day it looks a little bit different!

5|| Continue pinning in place, leave a few strays, but get most of them pinned in securely. The most important step — in my opinion — is that initial twist and secure, because that sets the tone for how this updo will look from the front and how it will stay in place.

A few additional tips:

Use a texture powder after you’ve pinned your chignon to “plump” it up a little bit. Yeah, I just used the word plump in a hair tutorial. This is why I am not a beauty blogger — clueless Kacia over here.

Leave a small section out and braid it. Then wrap it around the chignon to change up the look.

and that will probably be the last hair tutorial you ever see from me. :) I’m a hack. y’all. I’ll stick to the sewing and quilting and knitting and things…leave the hair and makeup up to the professionals.

happy Wednesday!

xo

Thanks for stopping by! I'd love to have you back! Subscribe to Coconut Robotvia RSS or via e-mail. Love, Kacia

THINGS I SAY

OLDIES

COPYRIGHT

2009-2014, Kacia Hosmer. Feel free to link to my blog all you would like, but please use a direct link to my site when using my photos (ie: Pinterest, social media, your blog, etc)...and while it's not required, I'd love for you to let me know what & where you post. :) It is NOT permissible to copy anything else on my site without prior written consent.
I use affiliate links in various posts. Affiliate links don't charge you anything more when you purchase, but it helps keep the lights on here.